Sheet feeding device for sheet dispenser



Nov. 15, 1955 M. BRIGHT SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR SHEET DISPENSER Filed May 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iwzkeniar L BR/GHT MAXEL M. L. BRIGHT 2,723,718

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR SHEET DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w if, WM a n5 MN L z m WV Q m i w. m\

\IWUIL fi Nov. 15, 1955 Filed May 20, 1950 1955 M. BRIGHT SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR SHEET DISPENSER 3 1, m mm mm w #5 w n mm L 3 E M M Filed May 20, 1950 United States Patent SHEET FEEDING DEVICE FOR SHEET DISPENSER Maxel L. Bright, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Moore Business Forms, Inc., Emeryville, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 20, 1950, Serial No. 163,123

7 Claims. (Cl. 16484.5)

This invention relates to improvements in strip dispensing means for feeding a long continuous strip of paper or the like, and for severing portions of the strip in measured lengths to form record sheets, sales slips, tickets, or the like.

It is a general object of. the invention to provide in a strip dispensing device of the class mentioned, an improved mechanism for feeding the strip forwardly from a supply pack preferably carried by the device, and checking it at definite intervals so that portions thereof of definite length may be severed to form the slips, tickets, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved strip controlling mechanism mounted on a longitudinally movable carriage which can be removed quickly and easily as a unit from the supporting casing for threading the strips into operative position, or for other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a strip dispensing device of the class mentioned, an improved mounting and control means for one or more controlling pins adapted to enter control apertures in the long continuous strip and to automatically check the strip advancement at definite intervals whereby the advanced end portions may be severed to provide the slips or tickets.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for strip dispensing devices of the class mentioned, an improved mounting for a longitudinally movable carriage having means for retracting one or more strip control pins, and at the same time exposing the forward end of the strip so that it may be grasped and moved forwardly a definite length, whereupon it can be severed along a severing edge or blade mounted upon the movable carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a strip dispensing device of the class mentioned, an improved arrangement of strip controlling pins adapted to enter strip apertures at longitudinally spaced parts of the strip and having cushioning means engaging the strips so as to avoid tearing of the strips.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious as the description proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a sheet dispenser embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the dispensing control carriage in its rearward position;

2,723,718 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 'ice Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the dispensing device, the section being taken substantially on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a different operative position, the section being taken substantially on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the broken line 5-5 of direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the carriage and control mechanism for the strip controlling pins, parts being broken away for clearness of disclosure, and parts being in section; i

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a detail of the structure; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a fragment of the long continuous paper strip.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the embodiment of the invention there shown, the improved sheet feeder and dispenser is particularly adapted for feeding and dispensing a long continuous strip S which may be conveniently folded into a zigzag supply pack S supported and housed in any approved manner. As shown, the strip S is divided by transverse longitudinally spaced weakened severance lines S which may be in the form of perforations or other known approved weakening means. The long strip S is thus divided into sheets, slips, tickets, or the like, of definite lengths that may be used for any desired purpose such as sales slips or the like and each slip may be provided with a blank form, serial numbers, or other printed matter dependent upon the particular purpose for which the slips are used. Each form length or slip of the strip S is provided with one or more control apertures S which are longitudinally spaced apart in a longitudinal series in the strip. Although the strip is shown with but one longitudinal series of control apertures S it is obvious that two or more such series spaced transversely of the strip may be used if desired.

In the embodiment shown, the strip supply pack S is appropriately supported and housed in a casing 10 constructed of sheet material such as metal, plastic, fiberboard, or the like. The casing is provided with side walls 11, a bottom 12 and top 13 and the rearward end thereof may have an appropriate end wall, while the forward end thereof is preferably open as shown for a purpose which later appears. The interior of the casing is provided with longitudinal supports or supporting rails 14 welded or attached in any appropirate manner to the upper part of the inner surfaces of the side walls 11.

Supported upon the rails 14 is a strip control unit indicated generally at 15 and embodying the arrangements for guiding, feeding and severing the strip S into definite lengths. This control unit includes an elongated upper plate 16 having downturned flanges 17. Transverse supporting rods or members 18 are connected to the flanges 17 and provided with hearing members 19 bearing upon the supporting rails 14 thus supporting the control unit in operative position within the casing. The control unit may be inserted into operative position or removed by sliding it longitudinally upon the supporting rails. When in its operative position, the control unit is locked or held in position by means of a locking bar 20 pivoted at 21 to the inside of one of the side walls and having a locking extension 22 extending through an aperture in one of the supporting rails 14 and engaging with the adjacent bearing member 19 so as to retain the control unit in its normal operative position in the casing.

Overlying the longitudinal plate 16 of the control unit Fig. 3 l ooking in the is a cover member 23 preferably provided with downturned flanges 24- positioned outside of the flanges 17 and pivoted at 25 to the forward end of the flanges 17 so as to swing upwardly as shown in Fig. 7. The plate 16 and the cover member or plate 23 thus form a guide for guiding the strip S forwardly into operative position, these plates being spaced apart slightly to provide a passageway through which the strip moves freely forwardly. At its rear end portion, the plate 16 of the control unit is provided with a rounded guide 26 over which the strip passes. The cover member 23 in normal operative position is retained by a spring plate 27 and is limited in its downturned movement by engagement of the flanges 24 with the transverse supporting rods 18.

Mounted beneath the plate 16 of the control unit is a longitudinally reciprocating control carriage 28 having a top plate 29 and downturned longitudinal flanges 30. The control carriage is housed at the underside of the control unit 15 between the downturned flanges 17 thereof being supported for longitudinal reciprocating movements by engagement of the flanges 30 with the supporting rods 18. Bearing studs 31 on the flanges 30 serve to space the carriage 28 slightly from the control unit 15 and to slideably engage with the inner surfaces of the flanges 17 so as to provide anti-friction devices to reduce friction of the longitudinal reciprocating movements of the carriage.

Control devices for controlling the forward movements of the strips S are mounted beneath the top plate 16 of the control unit. These control devices embody strip engaging pins 32 proiectible through apertures 33 in the top plate into the strip path and engageable in the strip apertures S to check forward movements of the strip as later described. Two of these control pins 32 are shown as being longitudinally spaced apart so as to simultaneously engage two adjacent control apertures S Each pin 32 is mounted upon a separate swinging carrier plate 34 pivoted at 35 by means of a downwardly turned portion of the top plate 16 of the carrier unit. Each carrier plate 34 and the pin 32 carried thereby is urged upwardly to engage the pin within the strip apertures, by means of a leaf spring 36 having one end secured as at 36' to the underside of the plate 16 and adapted to press upwardly against the plate 34.

Each carrier plate 34- is formed at the end portion thereof opposite its pivot 35 with an inclined plate or cam 37 cooperating with a cam member or tongue 38 extending from the top plate 29 of the control carriage 28. As shown the cam members 38 are preferably integral with the top plate 29 being offset downwardly therefrom. These cam plates 38 are shown as being bifurcated so as to straddle the adjacent control pins 32, the end portions thereof engaging with the inclined surfaces of the respective cam plates 3'7 to retract the pins as later described. Each leaf spring 36 is positioned in an opening at the pivoted end portion of the carrier plate 34 and engages at its free end with the under side of the plate 34'. For accommodating the pivotal attachments of the carrier plates 34 to the control unit, the top plate 2) of the carriage 28 is provided with longitudinally spaced openings 39.

When the control carriage is in its forward position into which it is urged by a tensioned coil spring 40, it projects forwardly of the casing for a short distance as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A strip severing bar 4-1 having a forwardly disposed strip severing edge is attached to the forward end of the carriage and spaced above the top plate 29 a short distance so that a strip passageway is formed beneath the severing bar. Also, an operating plate or handle 42 is attached to the forward end of the carriage preferably in depending position as shown and adjacent to the severing edge of the severing bar 41. The upper edge of the plate 42 may also serve as a strip severing edge so that the forward end of the strip may be severed either by an upward pull against the edge of the plate 41 or by a downward pull against the upper edge of the plate 42. A stop lug or plate 43 is attached to the carriage 28 contacting with one of the transverse rods 18 to limit forward movement of the carriage under tension of the spring 40.

Each of the strip control pins 32 is attached to its carrier plate 34 in any preferred manner as by passing the lower attaching extension thereof through an opening in the plate and riveting it in position as indicated at 44. Each pin extends through an opening 45 provided therefor in the plate 16 into the path or passageway for the in!" Also, the cover plate 23 is preferably provided with apertures 46 for receiving the upper ends of the pins when in their strip engaging positions.

in some cases, it is desirable to provide resilient yielding sleeves 47 for the control pins 32. These resilient sl ves are shown as tubular rubber members surroundand tightly frictionally engaging the outer surfaces of ..e pins 3'5 and of less length than the pins so that the pins project therethrough into strip engaging positions. 'l'he upper terminals of these rubber sleeves are seated in openings 45 in the plate 16 so that the upper end suraccs are in frictional engagement with the lower faces of he strips adjacent to the control apertures S From the foregoing detailed disclosure, the operation of the improved strip dispensing device will be clear and may be summarized as follows. For threading the strip into operative position, the control unit is preferably removed from the casing by releasing the latch 20, 22, then swinging the cover plate 23 into raised position as shown in Fig. 7 whereupon the strip is led over the plate 16 with the forward end thereof projecting beneath the severing bar 41. The cover 23 is then moved into normal position and the control unit inserted into operative position in the casing. Since the carrier plates 34 are normally urged upwardly by the springs 36, the control pins 32 will yieldingly engage the lower face of the strip S until the control apertures are aligned with the pins whereupon the pins will be proiected into the apertures to check further strip advancement. When it is desired to dispense a ticket or form length of the strip S, the operating plate 4" is manually engaged to move the carriage inwardly against the tension of the spring 40 to retract the pins from strip engagement. During this carriage movement the cam members 33, movable with the carriage, engage the cams 37 of the carrier plates 34 thus retracting the pins from strip engagement. At this time, the forward end of the strip projects slightly beyond the plate 42 and severing bar 41 where it is accessible for grasping by the operator as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The strip is then pulled forwardly manually to dispense a ticket of form length, the operating plate 42 and the carriage following the retreating fingers of the operator to the limit of the movement of the carriage, the control pins being at the same time released to resiliently engage the strip. When the next opening in the strip moves up to registry position, the control pins enter the strip apertures to checl; strip advancement, and at this point the form length is projected beyond the severing bar 41 which is then in the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, one of the severance lines S of the strip is substantially aligned with the severing edge of the bar 41 whereupon the strip is severed by pulling it with a tearing action against the severing edge. When the strip is thus manually pulled forwardly, considerable stress is often exerted upon the strip adjacent to the control apertures S because of the sudden strip checking action which may result in tearing or otherwise injuring the strip particularly in cases where the strip is of thin or weak paper. Hence in order to avoid such injury to the strip, the stress is i L f divided between the two longitudinally spaced control pins thus minimizing strip injury.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following is claimed:

1. In a dispensing device for continuous strips having longitudinally spaced apertures therein and adapted to be severed along predetermined longitudinally spaced tear lines, in combination, a casing and a strip control unit mounted in said casing for insertion in operative position therein and for removal comprising a strip guide normally fixed with respect to said casing, a longitudinally reciprocating carriage, a strip severing member mounted on said carriage, a strip checking pin mounted on said strip guide for automatic engagement with strip apertures to check the strip after a predetermined advancement thereof to a point where one of said tear lines registers with said severing member, a swinging carrier plate pivotally mounted on said strip guide beneath the same and supporting said pin for swinging movement, and a cam device operated by movement of said reciprocating carriage to swing said carrier plate for releasing said pin from strip engagement so as to permit the strip to be again advanced, such movement also serving to expose the leading edge of the strip to manual access whereby said strip may be advanced until checked by said pin.

2. In a dispensing device for continuous strips having longitudinally spaced apertures therein and adapted to be severed along predetermined longitudinally spaced tear lines, in combination, a casing, a strip guide in said casing and fixed relative thereto, a longitudinally reciprocating carriage mounted in said casing, a strip severing member mounted on said carriage, at least one strip checking pin mounted on said strip guide for automatic engagement with said strip apertures to check the strip after a predetermined advancement thereof to a point where one of said tear lines registers with said severing member, and pin releasing members on said reciprocating carriage for releasing the pins from engagement with said apertures so as to permit the strip to be again advanced when said carriage is moved in one direction, such movement also serving to expose the leading edge of the strip to manual access whereby said strip may be advanced until checked by said pin.

3. In a dispensing device for continuous strips having longitudinally spaced apertures therein and adapted to be severed along predetermined longitudinally spaced tear lines, in combination, a casing and a strip control unit insertable into and removable from said casing, said unit comprising a strip guide normally fixed against longitudinal movement with respect to said casing, a carriage longitudinally reciprocatable with respect to said guide, a strip severing member mounted on said carriage, said carriage having an opening therein, a spring pressed swinging carrier plate pivotally attached to said guide and extending through said opening in the carriage, a strip checking pin mounted on said carrier plate and automatically urged thereby into engagement with said strip apertures to check the strip after a predetermined advancement thereof to a point where one of said tear lines registers with said severing member, interengaging cam elements on said carriage and said swinging carrier plate and cooperating upon carriage movement in one direction to release said pin to permit the strip to be again advanced when said carriage is moved in one direction,

such movement also serving to expose the leading edge of the strip to manual access whereby said strip may be advanced until checked by said pin.

4. In a dispensing device for continuous strips having longitudinally spaced apertures therein and adapted to be severed along predetermined longitudinally spaced tear lines, in combination, a casing and a strip control unit mounted in said casing for insertion in operative position therein and for removal comprising an element normally fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said casing, a longitudinally reciprocating carriage mounted on said fixed element, a strip severing member mounted on said carriage, said carriage having longitudinally spaced openings therein, a plurality of longitudinally spaced spring pressed swinging carrier plates pivotally attached to said fixed element and extending through said openings in said carriage, a strip checking pin mounted on each of said carrier plates and automatically urged thereby into engagement with said strip apertures to check the strip after a predetermined advancement thereof to a point where one of said tear lines registers with said severing member, interengaging cam elements on said carriage and on each of said swinging carrier plates and cooperating upon carriage movement in one direction to release said pins and to expose the strip for manual access so as to permit the strip to be again advanced.

5. A dispensing device as in claim 4 including a resiliently yieldable part supported immediately adjacent to and movable with each pin and adapted to yieldingly engage a portion of the surface of the strip adjacent the aperture as the pin enters the aperture.

6. The subcombination set forth in claim 5 in which said resiliently yieldable part comprises an annular pad surrounding said pin and projectable through the opening in said guide plate along with the pin and contacting the surface of the strip around the margins of the aperture through which the pin is adapted to pass.

7. In a dispensing device for handling continuous strips and severing successive end portions therefrom at predetermined transverse tear lines, in combination, a casing, strip supporting and guiding means fixed within said casing, a carriage mounted within said casing for reciprocating movement relative to said supporting and guiding means, movement of said carriage in one direction we posing the leading edge of the strip to permit manual advancement thereof, a strip severing member carried by said carriage, strip checking means mounted within said casing and fixed against relative movement with respect thereto for automatically and positively engaging said strip to prevent further movement of the same after a predetermined advancement thereof to a point where a tear line is aligned with said severing member, and means carried by said carriage for disengaging said checking means from said strip upon movement of said carriage in said one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,861,120 Jensen May 31, 1932 2,094,566 Yancey Sept. 28, 1937 2,110,912 Krueger Mar. 15, 1938 2,279,135 Engel Apr. 7, 1942 2,361,528 Beloud Oct. 31, 1944 2,457,807 Davidson et a1 Jan. 4, 1949 2,470,260 Oliver May 17, 1949 

